Kamala's agenda for Black men...Biden's new red line to Israel...Donnie touting "school choice" and restricting schools at the same time... It's all an illusion.
Looking to 2024
A state judge blocked an attempt by Georgia’s electoral board to count all ballots by hand because there isn’t enough time to implement a new hand-counting methodology and because such a change at this point would decrease voter confidence that a fair election was held. Thank goodness someone has sense over there.
Black men, everybody wants a piece of you this election season. VP Kamala Harris heard a lot of y’all are skeptical about her, so she released a plan JUST for you. Her agenda includes providing 1M fully forgivable loans of up to $20K to Black entrepreneurs, opening pathways for Black men to become teachers, legalizing recreational marijuana, establishing a health equity initiative focused specifically on health problems impacting Black men, and protecting your crypto assets. Is it hitting how y’all need it to?
Donnie confirmed again that he is trying to get rid of the Department of Education and restrict funding to schools that teach certain subjects. Can someone tell us which part of the “no big government” game this is?
Nearly 1.5M ballots have already been cast in Georgia. The record-breaking trend is a sign of increased enthusiasm this election cycle and of Republicans softening their stance against early voting.
If you’re a little behind on all the down ballot issues like we are, Bolts has an election cheat sheet to help us catch up.
Keeping Up with Biden & Harris
Joe & Co. have announced a new “red line” for Israel. The latest ultimatum is that Israel must ensure humanitarian aid is flowing throughout Gaza “now and within the next 30 days” or no more US-made weapons will be sent their way. Pretty sure the US is going to let Netanyahu continue violating international humanitarian law and send him a big package of new weapons anyway, but hey. It sounds good when you need the public to believe you’re doing something to fix the genocide that you enabled.
The POTUS is concerned about a recent leak of classified information, which details Israel’s plan to attack Iran. In response to earlier remarks Biden made regarding the two Middle Eastern countries, Iran warned Joe should be careful of the role he’s playing, otherwise the US will need to bear full responsibility for instigating and enabling Israel.
The repayment freeze for federal student loan borrowers has been extended for another 6 months.
Congress, What’s Good
Our elected officials are still trying to sway voters to one side or the other and it appears that Dems are pulling ahead in fundraising. Should we be expecting Democrats to have total control of Congress next year?
We’re definitely looking forward to seeing which side returns to the Hill with that George Jefferson walk on November 12.
Social Justice Round Up
The Pentagon is working to address those dishonorably discharged from the military for their sexual preferences during the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” era. While most of the LGBTQ+ service members released during this time were “honorably” dismissed, 800 dishonorably released vets have recently had their status upgraded. This means that they can now apply for military benefits, healthcare, and educational or financial assistance.
Recent FBI data shows lower rates of violent crime in the United States with murder statistics alone falling by 12% from 2022 to 2023. Let’s keep this in mind the next time somebody tries to say crime is up and our community or any other oppressed group is to blame.
Water sources serving communities with a population of at least 25% of Black or other POC residents are 3 times less likely to be tested than water sources for white, non-Hispanic communities. Environmental racism much?
What the Health
President Biden proposed a rule requiring private health insurers to provide free over-the-counter birth control and emergency contraception to patients. While such a rule would expand access to contraceptives in a post Roe. v. Wade world, approval and implementation would likely be up to the next administration.
Uber and Lyft have increasingly become more popular for patients needing to travel far for medical care. For people living in rural areas who must travel to big cities for ER visits, chemo treatments, and dialysis appointments, this is a crucial lifeline.
Hey germaphobes, your desire to keep everything spic and span might actually be making you sick.
Around the Diaspora
Ghana’s coastal communities as well as its historic slave forts and castles are under threat from climate change.
Fighting in Sudan has become so layered with smaller proxy wars helping fuel actual civil war that it’s hard to see how a path to peace and an end to the humanitarian crisis will emerge.
October is Black History Month in the UK. Learn more about it here and check out some Black-owned British brands to shop.
Our Black Jobs & Our Black Money
Looking for your next gig, but feel your resume needs a bit more oomph? Google Career Certificates might give you that extra razzle dazzle you’re looking for.
Culture that Pops
Cuddle season and Halloween are both upon us. Here are 29 Black scary films to watch with your strongest prospect(s).
Feeling FOMO for missing your favorite HBCU’s homecoming? Peep some highlights from last week’s festivities to hopefully scratch that itch.
After dominating Hip Hop this year, Kendrick Lamar sat down with Sza for a little chat and the pair got personal.
Comments